Janet celebrates her African-American heritage and pays tribute to the musical history of Harlem on “Funky Big Band.”
“Throb” relies on sexual sighs and groans as it builds to an orgasmic “oh, sh-.” Although not as blunt, the rest of the album echoes that sensual sentiment. “If” alludes to oral sex and features suggestive lines such as “imagine my body undressed . . . you on the rise as you’re touching my thighs.” Trashing self-control, “Any Time, Any Place” depicts public sex (“I don’t wanna stop just because people are watchin’ us”).
A radical departure from her last album, janet could be the project that redefines Jackson’s image in the industry-but not for the better. This chart-topper’s tantalizingly lustful view of sex is bound to undermine teens’ moral purity and leave an unhealthy impression. And it’s distributed by a label that calls itself Virgin? Don’t dance with janet.
